Michelle Heaton Considering Double Mastectomy After Being Told She Has 80% Chance Of Contracting Cancer

Michelle Heaton has revealed she is considering having a double mastectomy and her ovaries removed after finding out she has an 80% chance of contracting cancer.

The former Liberty X star was left devastated after being told the news she has the BRCA2 gene, which increases the chances of contracting cancer.

michelle heaton

She is now weighing up whether or not to undergo the procedures to lower the likelihood of being diagnosed with the disease.

In an interview with OK magazine, Michelle said: "I have an 80% chance of getting ovarian cancer or breast cancer - and that's on top of everybody else's one-in-three chance.

"I've got to have an operation and we've got some decisions to make - whether I should have a double mastectomy and if I should have my ovaries removed to reduce the risks. We're going to have some counselling sessions before we make our minds up. I've got my first mammogram soon."

Michelle - who gave birth to her first child in January - later took to Twitter to thank fans for their support following the publication of the interview.

"There is so much love and great advice coming my way from you all.. I really really appreciate it . I promise I do read u all. Some of your stories are heart wrenching and inspirational.. I'm off for counselling today & some advice into the operations. Big love.x," she tweeted.

The news comes after the star was hospitalised last week after a long-term problem with her heart flared up again.

Speaking about her health scares on Twitter, she added: "I have the most amazing husband in the world @hughhanley - I can't pick faith up 4 a week due 2the operation & Hugh has been there 4 us both."

michelle heaton

Michelle and her husband Hugh Hanley

She continued: "The shoot with @OK_Magazine this week reveals something I've been living with for a couple a months.

"Along with the events of the last few days it's been a very tough couple of months. I am blessed to have such a wonderful family and amazing friends in this difficult time.

"They say things come in three's.. Let's hope not. Two potential life altering issues is enough thank u very much...this week I have tests and investigations into the cancer gene so i can make informative decisions on operations & family going forward."

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Karen Woodall

9 Fans

09:31 on 17/08/2012

As a BRCA2 carrier myself I've been reading lots of these comments. I've had both of the surgeries she is facing. To be diagnosed as a carrier you need to take a blood test which is only given after you have seen a genetics counseller and a genetics specialist. It is not undertaken lightly and they counsel you and tell you what type of surgeries you will face. It took me from December 2004 to March 2005 before I was diagnosed and I knew that there were positive results in my family. For the people who are saying she doesn't need to have the op's think about this ~ if you were told you had an 80% risk of getting cancer what would you do??? Would you leave it to chance or do something about it??? I know what I did was right for me, it's not right for everyone. Taking your boobs and ovaries away when they are perfectly ok is not a thing that you do lightly. I did it because I'd seen the devistation that both breast and ovarian cancer had caused in my family. I did not want to put my Son through that. I know it was you MIGHT contract cancer but I wasn't going to let it get me.

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nottonguetied

23 Fans

15:57 on 16/08/2012

thousands of women are told as much leading to totally unnecessary surgery.

debtrev

dreams can come true

16 Fans

11:46 on 16/08/2012

Whatever the outcome i wish her all the best.

Barbara Longstaff

108 Fans

08:08 on 16/08/2012

Why have your breasts removed when you do not have cancer and if breastfeeding that will lower your risk. You might never get cancer so wait until you are told you have it before mutilating your body on a whim. I think she is being slightly negative.

10:41 on 20/08/2012

Barbara, it's not a decision that anyone takes lightly to have their breasts removed when they are perfectly healthy. But if you have a known gene fault with a risk as high as 80% and have seen family suffer and you have the chance of having them removed and not put your family through the heartache of you contracting Breast Cancer what would you do? Knowing that she is BRCA2+ means that she has the power to prevent this happening. I've done it (March 2006) and wouldn't change a thing if I had my time over I'd still go ahead. Is that being negative? I have approx 200 BRCA+ friends (not just in the UK) who are all at various stages of surgeries etc. I know what they would say.

20:00 on 20/08/2012

Yes I understand that as I had a friend who had cancer in her left breast, and she told the surgeon to take both off as there was a chance of contracting it in the other breast.off, but what happens if she has both breasts off and she gets ovarian cancers which she was told it could be either. I am sorry you went through though that also as I said I watched my mother suffer with breast cancer and she died after 2 years of misery. It must be a terrible decision to have to make and I would not like to do it myself.

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xwilson

21 Fans

04:51 on 16/08/2012

yikes, she's a train wreck

cobra652003

72 Fans

01:18 on 16/08/2012

There is nothing Worse than being told you have Cancer but in this ladies case she does not have cancer as yet and in her case I would wait to be told that I have the cancer before doing anything as drastic as undergoing surgery as the surgery can have long lasting adverse effects upon the body that can be as bad if not worse than haveing the cancer there is also the chance that if she has her breasts removed and her overies that she will still get the cancer any way only it will just appear in a diffrent part of the body or a diffrent way good Luck to her what ever the case she has some very hard decisions to make and I would not wish that upon my worst enemy

moaningisolde

26 Fans

00:22 on 16/08/2012

Did she breastfeed her child? That seriously keeps your chances down (although never be complacent!) Also, avoiding a diet rich in hormones - ie with as little animal products as possible - will help keep her oestrogen levels more stable & thus not create the environment in which these kinds of cancers flourish. Easy choices, compared with the alternative!

tulliallon

14 Fans

23:45 on 15/08/2012

a very hard desision to make,would hate it, if me BUT she has a young baby which she needs to be there to see it growing up she is lucky inso far they have told her she is at risk and being able to make the choice lots of females never get the chance

she8mal

12 Fans

20:34 on 15/08/2012

Wouldn't want to have to make a decision like that but until she has had councilling and knows a bit more, she should have kept quiet. Heard she did the interview to pay for going private, who can blame her if she has to have the op's, but she does like the attention albeit quite negative from what I've read.

bullybeef

27 Fans

20:06 on 15/08/2012

i hope she doesn't get cancer but can someone please make the former mrs scott-lee go away

Diddyspot

11 Fans

19:22 on 15/08/2012

This should have been a private matter between her and her family not sold to a magazine, it just seems that she uses every opportunity she has to sell stories. She was recently hospitalised with heart problems yet still managed to post pics on twitter - have a little dignity missy keep it to yourself.

Fozwords

Abandon hope when you post on here

194 Fans

19:20 on 15/08/2012

If we did not give billions to countries like India, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Somalia etc etc etc we could cure this odeouss illness.

11:48 on 16/08/2012

I totally agree with you...even though my heart goes out to the thirld world countries.

18:03 on 16/08/2012

I dont want the genuine third worlders to suffer, but I feel that the current system simply puts money into the hands of despots and the amount is far too large when we have so much genuine suffering at home.

Neegy

4 Fans

18:48 on 15/08/2012

I know she's a bit of a nobody, but I wouldn't wish that on anybody. Very difficult decision to make.

ian the conqueror

13 Fans

18:40 on 15/08/2012

Whilst this cannot have been good news to receive, I think she should put things into perspective and remember that medical science, good as it is, is not infalible. Doctors do not have crystal balls and they are most definitely not the all seeing, all knowing superbeings that they would have us believe.(I speak from personal experience). She needs to first come to terms with the fact that one day, she will die of something or other (as will all of us). She then needs to decide if she would be happier living out her life minus her breasts on the off chance that she may have got breast cancer and that if so, the removal of her breasts may prevent the onset of breast cancer but may only be a brief postponement for getting cancer elsewhere in the body, or whether she she would be happier keeping her breast until she develops cancer (maybe), then have treatment that may be 100% effective, if not permanent. Nobody wants to die but, my philosophy now is that since I cannot prevent it, I am not going to worry about getting diseases etc until it happens, and am going to enjoy my life and family until the day I take my last gasp.

FletchSheff

1 Fans

18:03 on 15/08/2012

What an awful situation to be in. Not easy for any person to decide. Wish her luck. x

Chatting bubbles

0 Fans

20:39 on 15/08/2012

But what you must also remember is that she HAS NOT GOT CANCER, there is people who have got CANCER that have had these types of operations and still not survived, although i also know people who have had this type of operation and SURVIVED, and even had children. I think this is rather silly of her to come out with such a bold statement like that!!!!!!!!